IN THIS TED TALK, I CHALLENGE SOCIETAL MYTHS OF BLACK MEN AND THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCEED AGAINST THE ODDS. I THEORIZE THAT IF WE REORIENT THE WAYS WE IDENTIFY BLACK MALE SUCCESS WE CAN ENHANCE OUR PERCEPTIONS OF THEM AND THEIR ROADBLOCKS TO SUCCESS.

On this episode of #TheCut, I had a discussion with Makiah Green, the creator of the online platform @MyPWI, about the national outrage on college campuses about the recent racist remarks from Oklahoma State University fraternity, SAE.

In our discussion, Makiah and I go in depth and offer practical advice on how minority student should deal with racism on college campuses - all semester long. Do you agree?

.. So what would you do if I told you I got past White House clearance and was 60 feet away from the President of the free world?

Well, that's sort of how it went...

This past Friday, I was invited by the White House to cover the President's remarks at the National Action Network Convention in New York City on the behalf of Temple U. and my Radio Show: The Corner. It was a thrilling experience to hear the President voice his opinion about the work that needs to be done in regards to Civil Rights.

I must admit, when the President first entered the room there seemed to be an electricity that spanned across the auditorium as a number of dignitaries entered and sat down quickly.

Obama went into detail about his passion for My Brother's Keeper initiative and the broadening of the Health Care system. The President also went into great detail about Voter ID laws and how access to the ballot is inextricably bound to the Civil Rights Act that we are currently commemorating its 50th year.

Obama stated that "The right to vote is threatened today in a way that it has not been since the Voting Rights Act became law nearly five decades ago,". Most of the President's critique were against his Republican contemporaries and their attempts to set further restrictions against voters, some of which only reflect the bi-partisan interests.

However, against such restrictions, Obama encouraged everyone in the room that they still have a duty to participate. Without participation, "we give our power away" by becoming discouraged and staying home on Election Day.

Go out there and vote. You can make a change. You do have the power - Barack Obama

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ihFvvaIP8E&w=560&h=315]

"Go out there and vote. You can make a change. You do have the power," he said. "I've had my last election, but I need you to make sure that the changes that we started continue for decades to come."

These remarks were certainly powerful and inspiring.

What an amazing experience covering the 44th President of the United States of America.

This week we discussed the State of Hip Hop with Temple Universities own, Professor Timothy Welbeck , Professor of the course of Hip Hopcrisy: Hip Hop & Black Culture. Professor Welbeck and I went into detail about these topics:

Nicki Minaj’s new controversial single and her use of Malcom X on it's over